PolicyMaking Responsibilities

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Policy-Making Responsibilities
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Introduction
Well-crafted, written policies that are in
compliance with local, state, and federal laws
are vital to the efficient functioning of
libraries.
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Overview

• Policy manual
• Personnel policies
• Unions in libraries
• Intellectual freedom
• Confidentiality of records

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Lesson Objective
By the end of this lesson you will be able to

• Explain the importance of written policies
• Define intellectual freedom
• Describe confidentiality of records issues

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Policies Are Important

• Support library mission, philosophy and vision
• Support decision making and planning
• Guide staff performance, delivery of services
• Establish services and how provided
• Avoid conflicts and arguments
• Ensure fair and equal treatment

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Policy Making

• Boards
• Dedicate time
• Review existing policies
• Implement new policies

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Policy Making

• Directors and Staff
• Research issues
• Provide successful examples
• Participate in development
• Institute procedures

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Policy Manual

• Written, printed and organized
• Available to the public
• Copies in each board notebook
• Staff is trained to apply

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Policies for

• Mission statement
• Collection development
• Intellectual freedom
• Customer service
• Internet access

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Policies for

• Unaccompanied children
• Customer behavior
• Facilities use and access
• Circulation of materials
• Library management

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Policies for

• Finance
• Community Meeting Room Usage
• Community relations
• Gifts and donations
• Use of professional services

Samples are in your toolkit
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Personnel Policies

• Job descriptions
• Organizational chart
• Performance standards
• Salary schedules

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Personnel Policies

• Recruitment, selection, hiring, EEO
• Drug and alcohol free workplace
• Sexual harassment
• Hours, vacation, leave, jury duty, overtime
• Employee reviews and evaluation

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Personnel Policies

• Employee transfers and promotion
• Employee benefits
• Grievance process
• Disciplinary action
• Reimbursements

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Unions

• If represented by union
• Collective bargaining agreement in force
• Specifies conditions, hours, grievance
• Non-represented employees
• Separate policy explaining union agreement
• States their how they have to conform

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Intellectual Freedom is

• The access to many kinds of thoughts, ideas, and
  information.

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Intellectual Freedom

• Differing world views
• Some are not comfortable or approve all materials
• Demands to remove items
• Attempts at censorship on rise

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Intellectual Freedom

• Custodians of history and intellectual expression
• Safeguarding access to variety of resources
• ALA Library Bill of Rights
• ALA Freedom to Read Statement

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Whats In and Whats Out

• Requests to reconsider material must be in
  writing
• Librarian discusses with customer, explains
  policy
• Discussed with board, when necessary
• Board supports directors decision

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Censorship Attempts

• Assistance can be found from
• District Library Centers
• PaLA Intellectual Freedom Committee
• ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom

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Confidentiality of Records

• Librarians are committed to the idea that
  citizens who use their libraries are entitled to
  privacy.

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Confidentiality of Records

• Section 428 of the Library Code
• Prohibits the release of circulation records
• Only exception is a court order
• Process is public
• Requests under the Patriot Act of 2001
• Librarians must produce records
• Records no longer confidential
• Court order still needed, but process is not
  public
• More information is in your toolkit.

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Resources

• Freedom to Read Foundation
• www.ftrf.org
• ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
• www.ala.org/oif
• A list of recommended books is in your toolkit

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Group Exercise
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REVIEW

• Importance of written policies
• Boards role in making policy
• Necessary library policies
• Policies can generate public debate